The sun was nearing the horizon, but it was the busiest time on the food street — the peak of the day. Everywhere, villagers were calling out to friends, enjoying the lively atmosphere. With signs of peace after the war, even some ninja could be seen strolling among the crowds.
A boy and two girls walked through the bustling street, eyes darting around. Along the road, each restaurant had small wooden signs hanging on the windows, displaying their menu items and prices: beef noodles, fried rice, hot soup noodles, and more. Yet the prices were quite steep; even the cheapest hot soup noodles cost forty ryo a bowl. Clearly, the currency in the world of the Hokage seemed influenced by some island nation destined to sink.
"Ye Mizunotsuki, you really came from Kirigakure? What's it like there? Is it as lively as Konoha?"
"Night… can I call you Night? Always using your surname feels so cumbersome!"
"Night! The dumpling shop is just up ahead! Their dumplings are amazing — I guarantee you'll get addicted!"
Azuki Mitara was an energetic chatterbox, bouncing ahead. Yugao Uzuki shot Ye an apologetic glance, silently saying "sorry" — her best friend's energy could be overwhelming at times, admittedly a little rude to outsiders.
Yugao herself came from a small ninja clan in Konoha, specialized in swordsmanship, with a historic friendship with the Moonlight Clan. Both clans had provided bodyguards to the Second Hokage, forming a deep bond.
Yugao had excellent manners and upbringing. Walking beside Ye, she exuded the air of a gentle, refined lady. Seeing her refined demeanor and imagining her future beauty, Ye immediately thought she would make a perfect wife.
As for Azuki Mitara…
She gave Ye the impression of a wild child. But considering that her guardian had long passed away, and she now lived with Orochimaru, Ye wasn't surprised. Orochimaru was surely too busy with his experiments to care about a child's upbringing.
"Night-kun, I'm sorry for the trouble. Azuki isn't usually like this…"
Yugao quietly explained to Ye, trying to salvage her friend's image. But halfway through her sentence, Azuki dashed into a modest shop, returning moments later with five or six skewers of fried dumplings in each hand. Her cheeks puffed high as she muttered something through a full mouth.
"Night! Yugao! Come try! They're incredible!"
Yugao: "…Right, forget I said anything."
She pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling utterly exhausted. Ye almost laughed at the sight. No wonder Azuki would gain weight in the future — with this appetite, it was inevitable.
Ye shook his head, watching the skewers steaming in Azuki's hands. He was slightly hungry and reached over to grab a few. Though he would have preferred trying Konoha's most famous Ichiraku Ramen, since someone else was treating, he couldn't pass it up.
After all, spending others' money felt completely different from spending your own — and Ye preferred the former whenever possible. Yugao silently followed behind him.
Due to the street's popularity, the dumpling shop was crowded. Despite being careful, Ye occasionally brushed past other patrons.
"Here, these are yours."
Azuki handed him two skewers. As Ye reached to take a bite, someone suddenly slammed into him from the opposite street. Instinctively, he stepped back.
Then he heard a muffled shout from behind:
"Ah! Watch out!"
A flash of cold steel reflected in the sunset light — a kunai.
Someone's trying to assassinate me! Ye thought, reacting instantly. He was no child who panicked in emergencies.
Bang!
In a flash, his speed and strength surpassed most adults. A chilling ice sword materialized in his hand, blocking the kunai aimed at his throat. He bent his knees and launched a kick forward.
Thanks to the card's enhancements — not only chakra but also numerous attributes — Ye's six-year-old body exceeded most adults in raw power. His chakra-imbued leg struck like a cannonball, sending the assassin flying seven or eight meters. His chest caved inward, eyes wide with disbelief — how could Ye not only survive but counterattack so swiftly?
Sword and kick executed in one fluid motion.
Unimaginable combat talent.
Spit!
Blood sprayed from the assassin's mouth.
"Kirigakure? Even in Konoha, you won't leave me alone!? You know the previous mission failed?"
Ye lowered his ice sword, frowning at the assassin on the ground. From the assassin's aura, only a rain ninja or a Kirigakure ninja could match it. He had no grudges against a rain ninja — the answer was obvious.
Persistent pests!
A nameless fury ignited in Ye's heart.
"Ding! Collecting combat data.""Collection complete. Congratulations, player earned minor experience points for equipped cards.""Ding! Congratulations, player received one random four-star character card fragment."
At that moment, a four-star card fragment appeared in Ye's inventory. The image depicted a swordsman: Yasuo, the Wind Swordsman from League of Legends.
Ye barely glanced at it — a fragment was useless; fifty were needed to redeem a complete card. Experience, however, was more valuable. The fragment increased his Est card's XP, bringing him close to level three, granting additional attributes.
Suddenly, chaos erupted on the street. Screams and shouts filled the air. Someone had been spat blood on and collapsed — on the verge of death.
"Murder! Someone's been killed!""Run!""That blue-eyed kid — he dared to kill in public!"
Villagers panicked. Yugao's face flushed with worry, while Azuki rubbed her eyes in shock.
Kill… kill someone…
It was Azuki's first time witnessing a murder — even more shocking because it involved a peer. Her gaze toward Ye wavered, mixing fear and awe.
"No, that's not it! That person was trying to assassinate Night-kun! Night-kun was only defending himself!" Yugao shouted. Azuki, realizing the truth, quickly agreed. She had witnessed the attack firsthand.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Amid the chaos, ninjas noticed the commotion. Suddenly, three figures appeared beside Ye as if teleporting, forming a protective perimeter. Winds swirled — reinforcements from Konoha arriving.
"Konoha Guard! Move aside, civilians!"
The central figure glared at the surroundings, commanding authority. Recognizing them as Konoha Guard, the crowd stepped back.
"I am Uchiha Keiyu. You must come with us."
Ye frowned slightly — the Konoha Guard under the Uchiha clan. Only a few knew about him. He hesitated briefly, worried about explaining the situation in front of strangers.
After a moment, he nodded. Street-side killings required adherence to rules — but he would remain vigilant.
"Take him, Shinsuke. Bring the corpse as well."
The assassin had succumbed to injuries. Following Keiyu's orders, a guard lifted the body, preparing to escort Ye away.
"Please inform the Third Hokage…"
As Ye brushed past Azuki and Yugao, he whispered quickly into their ears.
Minutes later, watching Ye being escorted by Konoha Guard, the two girls exchanged glances and hurriedly ran toward the Hokage's tower.